The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-23
The Institution for the Blind.
70 the Editor of the indianapolis Journal.

Inc following appears In your issue or to-day:
There is reason to believe that the management of
the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb needs thor
ough investigation also. Dr. Harrison is president of
that board In fact he is president of three boards
and 1.-The trail of the serpent is over them all.
As one of the trustees of the Institution for
the Blind, am led to notice your criticism,
more in justice to the managers of the institute
than to myself l agree with yoo Mr. Editor,
that the system under which our benevo-
lent, penal and reformatory institu-
tons are managed is wrong, radically
wrong. My official connection with one
of them has served to confirm me in that opin-
ion. When the Brown bill divesting the Gov
ernor of the appointive power and making the
trustees elective by the Legislature was pend
ing Regarded it as a departure from sound pol
icy, and declined positively and repeatedly to
button hole the members in aid of its passage.
For my refusal to aid in what conceived to be
but a temporary advantage to my party, at best,
/ was dropped from the combination and an
other candldate-Mr. David Webb. of Fountain
county-was put in my place. When the bill
passed. however, l decided to enter the race, de-
spite the combination" against me- My major
ity in the caucus was two only. It was a close
shave. but sufficient for all practical purposes.
l trust you will pardon this personal allusion
for the connection it bears to my official service.
In the election of a superintendent for the 1nsti
tute was governed by supreme regard for the
interests of its beneciaries and of the people of
L.
recommended TO me by experienced educators
and men of high character, prospect
i've of party. as fit man for the
position. He certainly was not in the 'combi-
nation" did not know him even, save bv rep
| utation, and cannot be accused, therefore, of
any selfish interest in his election. AS mem
Der of the board with whom he would be brought
into official relations, told him at the outset of
his administration that had neither friends
to reward enemies to punish" That the
| law very properly invested him with the selec-
ton of his assistants, and while holding him re-
| sponslble for the rroper government of the in
sti.ution, it would be unjust, if not
| that regard That while l had no ak to grind,
| the only favor / asked at his hands was pure,
clean administration, free from scandal and cor
| ruption of every kind. How we'll that promise
hes been kept prefer to let political opponent
| say. When appealed to for an investigation,
and an opportunity to vindicate the institute
| from the indiscrminate charges or innuendoes of
| which the above is a sample, his reply was that
| he could not hear of single charge of crooked
| ness on which to base an lnves tgation.
| claim credit for myself in this matter
nor would l notice 1t. save in justice to the
| attaches OF the institute, who labor unceasingly
| for its welfare. The columns of my paper will
| show that am no latter-day convert to civil
| service reform. l regard the spoils system as
the Pandora box from which spring the abuses
and evils of which the people complain. II is
folly to endeavor to reform it by turning one Sc,
| of spoismen out and putting another
| set in Honesty is not peculiar tt
one party more than another. Bossisn
| and favoritism will be the rule under Republican
| as under Democratic management, if the condi
| tions invite to their development Non partisan
management by a single board of trustees, ap
| pointed by the Governor, Is step in the righ
| direction, but it does not go to the root of tn.
| evil A State civil-service act, similar to tina,
| of New York and Massachusetts, and providing
for competitive examinations to test the fitness
| of applicants for positions under it, may effec
| the desired reform. HOWARD BRIGGS.
| GREENCASTLE, Ind, Feb. 81.